Jesus Calms His People
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not worry for anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.
Peace also comes from asking God for what we need. He knows what we need, but there is something about asking Him for help that enables us to give our burdens over to Him.
The third thing we should do is give thanks for things He’s already done for us. This helps us remember how faithful and good He is. It reminds us of what He’s done for us in the past. It’s like taking a big, calming breath and saying, “I know you’ve got this, because you’ve proven yourself before.”
And then the interesting thing… the verse doesn’t say our circumstances will change (like it did for the disciples in the storm), it says the peace of God will fill our hearts and minds. There’s the miracle, kids! We can have peace while the “storm” rages because we hand it over to the master. It says the peace is so strong that it’s hard for us to understand how we can have it in the midst of our trials.
Activity: Make a thankful handprint.
1. Spread paint on each person’s hand. Make sure you have a good amount. (I used a sponge brush to spread paint)
2. Lay hand flat on a piece of plain paper.
3. Once dry, write with a sharpie marker one thing you are thankful for on each finger. Have kids think outside the box by listing things that don’t include family or material goods. Some examples are weather from that day, hot water, indoor plumbing, a smile from a friend, a hug when we need it, etc. Explain that being thankful for things God has already done, helps us trust Him to supply for our future.
